Chapter 438 Retrieving the Scales (1/2)

Swoosh!

Zhou Yuan’s figure dashed towards the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree, the dried leaves on the ground completely undisturbed as his body blew past like a wisp of smoke.

In a short few breaths, he was already fast approaching the area within a hundred feet of the tree.

Everything was still peaceful and silent as before.

However, Zhou Yuan’s body grew increasingly tense, while a vigilant look filled his face. His gaze was glued to the tree, making sure to catch every movement it made.

The tree’s powerful pressure made Zhou Yuan understand just how powerful an existence it was. In the face of such a strong living being, he did not dare to be even the slightest bit negligent.

Fortunately, there was still no reaction from the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar as Zhou Yuan neared.

This caused joy to rise in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. It appeared that because he was as weak as an ant to an existence as mighty as the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree, he so insignificant that even its base instincts perceived no threat from him.

“Almost there, almost there… I just need a chop off a few scales!” Zhou Yuan’s heart violently thudded as his burning gaze looked towards the peculiar faintly glowing scales on the tree trunk.

Swish!

However, Zhou Yuan’s Spirit suddenly trembled at this moment, sensing danger. His dashing figure immediately paused as he stepped to the side at a strange angle.

A flash of black light that gave off an extremely sharp aura arrived the instant his body twisted, silently slicing through even the air itself. In the end, it brushed past Zhou Yuan’s body and flew off.

Pch!

The black object pierced into the ground, creating seemingly bottomless whole. Zhou Yuan’s gaze shivered as it swept to the side, because that flash of black earlier had been a black vine. The vine was covered in countless fine scales that flickered icily under the light.

It was the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree’s vine!

Zhou Yuan raised his head with a grave expression, and found countless black vines slowly slithering in the air like pythons, their sharp, pointed ends all aimed at him.

Every one of these vines gave off an extremely dangerous aura.

“Still been discovered huh…” Zhou Yuan sighed helplessly. He had originally hoped to escape detection with his Ethereal Form technique, and stealthily approach to chop off a few tree scales.

Swish!

While Zhou Yuan was sighing, the countless vines suddenly descended, leaving faint marks in the air, their sharp auras directed straight at Zhou Yuan.

“Mystical Python’s Great Golden Bell!”

Zhou Yuan stomped on the ground as golden Genesis Qi exploded. The Genesis Qi swiftly transformed into a giant golden bell that covered his entire body.

Although these vines were merely an instinctive response from the tree, they were a huge danger towards Zhou Yuan. Hence, he did not hesitate in activating his strongest defense.

Clang! Clang!

Countless vines ferociously stabbed at the golden bell, creating a cacophony of loud clanging sounds. Golden light violently rippled as faint cracks began to appear on the surface of the bell.

A look of horror flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes. His Mystical Python’s Great Golden Bell boasted astonishing defenses, and yet signs of breaking had begun to appear so quickly. Wasn’t the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree’s vine attacks a little too frightening?

*Shatter*!

More and more cracks appeared on the golden bell, before it ultimately shattered. Zhou Yuan’s figure shot forth once again at that very moment, pouncing straight towards the tree.

Vine after vine darted through the air like lightning, like an inescapable net that was about to trap Zhou Yuan in its confines.

“Heavenly Sun Flame!”

His mouth ballooned as azure Heavenly Sun Flames poured out.

The vines quickly shrank back when licked by the flames, but soon after, the scales on the vines slowly emitted a glow as robust Genesis QI flowed out to cover them.

Ch ch!

As such, the vines that were now wrapped in green Genesis Qi no longer feared the Heavenly Sun Flames. They lashed out together, ripping apart the flames as they ruthlessly shot towards Zhou Yuan.

The attacking vines seemed to cover the entire sky, and seemed very ferocious in nature. Though Zhou Yuan wanted to advance, he had no choice but to retreat.

The tree appeared to be almost within reach, but this small gap was akin to a great raging river that was nearly impossible to pass.

In the face of the countless attacking vines, Zhou Yuan was unable to advance, and was clearly in a very difficult situation.

Further away, old Xuan breathed out a mouthful of smoke, watched Zhou Yuan’s sorry situation as he nonchalantly said. “As time passes, more and more vines will awaken, while the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree will also slowly be roused from its deep slumber.”

“The longer you delay, the lesser your chances.”

Old Xuan’s voice was transmitted into Zhou Yuan’s ears, causing his expression to change. The tree was an extremely dreadful existence. If it awakened, even a Heavenly Sun stage expert would have his hands tied, let alone a fourth layer Alpha-Origin like himself.

When that happened, obtaining scales from the tree would become a fantasy.

However, he was not holding back either. The tree’s vines were just too terrifying, causing him to be unable to advance even half a step...

Obtaining scales from the tree was clearly not going to be as easy as he had imagined.